How might enlargement of the prostrate gland interfere with urination or reproductive?

How might enlargement of the prostate gland interfere with urination or reproduction?

Enlargement of the prostate gland, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), can cause a number of problems with urination and reproduction.

Urination

_Prostate gland compressing the urethra:_ The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. As the prostate gland enlarges, it can compress the urethra and make it difficult or painful to urinate.

_Increased frequency and urgency:_ The bladder's inability to completely empty can cause frequent urges to urinate, including at night (nocturia).

*Weak stream:_ The narrowing of the urethra due to prostate enlargement can lead to a weak or slow urine stream.

*Incomplete bladder emptying:_ An enlarged prostate can obstruct the flow of urine from the bladder, leaving residual urine in the bladder and increasing the risk of infection.

Reproduction

*Erectile dysfunction (ED):* The nerves that control erections run very close to the prostate. As a result, BPH surgery to remove or shrink the prostate gland may damage these nerves and lead to ED.

*Retrograde ejaculation:_ BPH can also interfere with ejaculation, causing semen to flow backward into the bladder during orgasm. This condition is called retrograde ejaculation.